AI CEOs Call for Mandatory DNA Screening Laws
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- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman signed a public letter urging Congress to enact laws requiring synthetic DNA/RNA providers to screen customers and orders for misuse.
- DeepMind co‑founder Demis Hassabis joined the appeal, which was organized by the Institute for Progress and the Foundation for American Innovation.
- Institute for Progress warned that rapid AI progress could erode the knowledge barriers that have historically prevented bad actors from creating biological weapons.
- David Relman of Stanford University warned that AI tools can help users locate unscreened gene sequences and modify orders to evade detection.
- Twist Bioscience, a member of the International Gene Synthesis Consortium, signed the letter and supports voluntary screening of gene synthesis orders.
Why it matters: Dozens of gene‑synthesis firms in the United States would face new mandatory screening rules, raising compliance costs and operational overhead while strengthening biosecurity against AI‑crafted pathogens.
